An ordinance is rarely retroactive, but but it can specify replacements
for worn out fixtures with less offensive ones, and it can also (within
reason) set a horizon date for existing bad fixtures to be replaced or
disconnected.
For a specific commercial (or industrial or even residential)
discretionary approval, like a site review, rezoning or use permit, the
approving body can adopt conditions of approval that can specify
outfitting or replacements with non-offending fixtures. I don't know if
the new automall, or re-use of the Caddy site, qualifies - but they might,
and it's worth checking into.
Here in Alameda County, although we do not yet have an ordinance, we do
frequently apply reasonable conditions of approval to subdue light on our
permits.
Bruce Jensen
************
--- Jeff Crilly <jlc@No-Spam> wrote:
>
> Fyi.. I read a blurb in the palo alto daily yesterday that
> said that the menlo cadilac dealer (on el camino) was closing doors for
> good.
>
> The city council is quite dismayed by this, and is pressing
> forward for plans to build an automall on the east side
> of 101 in menlo park.
>
> Go figure.
>
> The problem with these ordinances is that they are rarely retroactive,
> correct?
>
> Another LP caution.. I noticed lots of new housing going
> in by the new 85/101 intersection near mogan hill.
>
> Speaking of the central valley... its always surprised
> me how bad the sky is when I'm driving north to redding,
> or east to yosemite/tahoe. Surprisingly, I'd figure
> the valley to be pretty dark.. but it seems always washed
> out. Plus, the atmospheric conditions arent great.. there's
> also fog to contend with.
>
> --- Bruce Jensen <bpnjensen@No-Spam> wrote:
>
> > There is a movement underway to have a lighting statute established in
> > California, in part to remedy this type of thing and preserve the
> night
> > sky as a part of humanity's cultural and scientific heritage. This is
> > critical, because there are a number of municipalities that are
> unwilling
> > to to do this on their own.
> >
> > Hopefully a lighting ordinance would encourage light to be aimed
> downward
> > and not in anyone else's eyes, and kept to a reasonable useful level.
> > That is probably enough to ask overall.
> >
> > Bruce Jensen
> > ************
> > --- Michael Linnolt <ml@No-Spam> wrote:
> >
> > > Last nite I was driving back to the bay from Tahoe after a wonderful
> > > skiing trip, and late at night the shies were clear, and I could
> note
> > > the
> > > changes in sky conditions as I headed back into town. Most of the
> Tahoe
> > > area is very dark, once you get out of the immediate vicinity of the
> > > towns
> > > lining the lake shore. Similarly for Hwy 50 as you head back west. A
> > > little LP in Placerville, but the trouble begins around Cameron Park
> and
> > > El Dorado. By the time you are down in Folsom, the skies are
> actually
> > > worse than around SF! I could only make out the belt stars in Orion!
> > >
> > > I was horrified to see the worst LP-er is the Folsom Auto mall
> > > complex. This area is several hundred acres of totally unshielded
> > > mercury
> > > lamps in a densely packed arrangement. This was late on a Sunday
> night,
> > > when nobody is shopping for cars! The glare light was so intense, I
> had
> > > to drop my sunvisor and the neighboring apartment complexes were
> > > illuminated so brightly they had no need for outdoor security
> > > lighting. Funny. A few lumens saved, I guess.
> > >
> > > Doesn't this violate some ordnance or something? Its just such a
> gross
> > > violation and intrusion and total waste of energy, unbelievable.
> Anyone
> > > know who to contact in Folsom to try to put a stop to that? Lucky I
> dont
> > > live anywhere near that, but if such things were to come anywhere
> around
> > > SJ, say goodbye to observing at Coe!
> > >
> > > Mike
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > =====
> > Cheers,
> > Bruce Jensen
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > __________________________________
> > Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday!
> > Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web
> > http://birthday.yahoo.com/netrospective/
> >
>
>
=====
Cheers,
Bruce Jensen
~~~~~~~~~~~~
__________________________________
Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday!
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Received on Mon Mar 7 14:27:37 2005